{"id":47273,"date":"2025-08-20T14:52:54","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T19:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/?page_id=47273"},"modified":"2026-05-04T09:20:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T14:20:40","slug":"empowering-afghan-women-in-stem-dr-sweeta-akbaris-journey-from-exile-to-innovation-in-biomedical-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/stories-and-impact\/impact-stories\/empowering-afghan-women-in-stem-dr-sweeta-akbaris-journey-from-exile-to-innovation-in-biomedical-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Sweeta Akbari, IIE Scholar Rescue Fund Fellow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-iie-navigation-wrapper is-layout-constrained wp-block-iie-navigation-wrapper-is-layout-constrained\">\n\t\t<div class=\"navigation-wrapper__sidebar\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"navigation-wrapper__menu-container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"navigation-wrapper__menu-controls\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"navigation-wrapper__menu-parent-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"eyebrow\">Giving at IIE<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<nav id=\"navigation-wrapper-menu\" class=\"navigation-wrapper__menu\" aria-label=\"Sidebar Navigation\">\n\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-3084 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/where-to-give\/\">Where to Give<\/a>\n<ul class='children'>\n\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-3146\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/where-to-give\/give-where-needed-most\/\">Give Where Needed Most<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-3171\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/where-to-give\/iie-emergency-student-fund\/\">Emergency Student Fund<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-3165\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/where-to-give\/artist-protection-fund\/\">Artist Protection Fund<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-3160\"><a 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class=\"page_item page-item-38532\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/ways-to-give\/matching-gifts\/\">Matching Gifts<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-33520\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/ways-to-give\/donor-advised-funds-dafs\/\">Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-3280\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/ways-to-give\/legacy\/\">Planned Giving at IIE<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-3473 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/stories-and-impact\/\">Stories and Impact<\/a>\n<ul class='children'>\n\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-26863 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/stories-and-impact\/impact-stories\/\">Impact Stories<\/a>\n\t<ul class='children'>\n\t\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-34406\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/stories-and-impact\/impact-stories\/hasan-duha-ikiz-emergency-student-fund\/\">Hasan Duha Ikiz, Emergency Student Fund<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-47273\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/stories-and-impact\/impact-stories\/empowering-afghan-women-in-stem-dr-sweeta-akbaris-journey-from-exile-to-innovation-in-biomedical-research\/\">Dr. Sweeta Akbari, IIE Scholar Rescue Fund Fellow<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-33787\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/stories-and-impact\/impact-stories\/shatha-altowai-2021-iie-artist-protection-fund-fellow\/\">Shatha Altowai, IIE Artist Protection Fund Fellow<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-32911\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/stories-and-impact\/impact-stories\/dr-rana-mustafa-scholar-rescue-fund\/\">Dr. Rana Mustafa, Scholar Rescue Fund<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-26865\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/stories-and-impact\/impact-stories\/dr-marycelin-baba-scholar-rescue-fund\/\">Dr Marycelin Baba, Scholar Rescue Fund<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-26867\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/stories-and-impact\/impact-stories\/pedro-x-molina\/\">Pedro X. Molina, Artist Protection Fund<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"page_item page-item-26872\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/stories-and-impact\/impact-stories\/naw-bee-bi-odyssey-scholar\/\">Naw Bee Bi, Odyssey Scholar<\/a><\/li>\n\t<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-29629\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/donor-bill-of-rights\/\">Donor Bill of Rights<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-3268\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/giving-at-iie\/fundraising-disclosure\/\">Fundraising Disclosure<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/nav>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"navigation-wrapper__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Dr. Sweeta Akbari, IIE Scholar Rescue Fund Fellow<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"IIE Scholar Rescue Fellow: Dr. Sweeta Akbari\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMcLJG5moTE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Empowering Changemakers in STEM: Dr. Sweeta Akbari\u2019s Journey from Exile to Innovation in Biomedical Research<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sweeta Akbari, Ph.D.<\/strong>\u2014a distinguished chemical engineer, postdoctoral researcher, and IIE Scholar Rescue Fund fellow\u2014is advancing the frontiers of biomedical science while mentoring individuals with aspirations in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). With more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and numerous international speaking engagements, Dr. Akbari is a globally respected advocate for advances in STEM and scientific education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a recent milestone, Dr. Akbari contributed to the development of a novel biomaterial designed for bone repair and cartilage regeneration, a promising advancement in regenerative medicine. Her work is helping shape the future of biomedical engineering and tissue repair technologies. But for much of her career, Dr. Akbari has been in exile from her home country of Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2021, Afghan women and girls have been banned from secondary and higher education, leaving more than 1.4 million girls without access to learning, according to UNESCO. As the population of displaced persons balloons to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/us\/global-trends\">1 out of 67 individuals<\/a> worldwide, Afghan people continue to constitute one of the largest populations among them. Scholars, women and girls, and people with suspected connections to the West, face increasing threats under the current regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Akbari found hope through the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF), a global initiative that provides academic fellowships for threatened scholars. With support from IIE-SRF and the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), she was placed at Tampere University in Finland, where she continues her research in a safe and collaborative environment. \u201cThe support of IIE-SRF is a life-changing opportunity,\u201d she says. \u201cA safe workplace is essential for better productivity, allowing a scholar like me to strengthen her expertise in her field and bring about a positive change in her community and globally.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile has-aspect-ratio has-aspect-ratio-1-1\" style=\"grid-template-columns:24% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sweeta-Akbari-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47291 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sweeta-Akbari-3.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.iie.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sweeta-Akbari-3-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.iie.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sweeta-Akbari-3-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.iie.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sweeta-Akbari-3-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.iie.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Sweeta-Akbari-3-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Whoever supports my research, they are a part of my life.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Through the fellowship\u2014funded by both the IIE-SRF and the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI)\u2014Dr. Akbari was placed at Tampere University in Finland, where she conducts research in a safe and supportive environment. Here, Dr. Akbari has unlocked new opportunities to network, attend international conferences, and tend to her family: \u201cHaving a family in Finland has been a very beautiful part of my life. It\u2019s home to one of the greatest education systems in the world. My kids enjoy the schools they attend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond her research, Dr. Akbari leads Scholars in STEM, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering up and coming scientists through STEM education. The organization offers online learning and mentorship, professional development, support for fellowship applications, and networking with STEM professionals. She aims to help to prepare the next generation to make positive contributions to the future of Afghanistan. \u201cIt is a very difficult time for women and girls in Afghanistan,\u201d says Dr. Akbari. \u201cBut even from home, you can still contribute and stay active in your field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IIE-SRF has supported nearly 70 Afghan scholars since August 2021. From campuses across 10 countries, they are rebuilding their lives and careers while advancing scholarship in their disciplines, enriching their host campus communities, and acquiring knowledge and networks to ultimately contribute to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scholarrescuefund.org\/about-iie-scholar-rescue-fund\/\">Learn more about the Scholar Rescue Fund<\/a> and how it is enabling scholars like Dr. Sweeta Akbari to pursue their academic work in safety and to continue to share their knowledge with students, colleagues, and the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/?form=main_campaign\">Support scholars like Dr. Akbari with a gift to IIE and the Scholar Rescue Fund.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scholarrescuefund.org\/about-iie-scholar-rescue-fund\/\">IIE Scholar Rescue fund<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":157,"featured_media":0,"parent":26863,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"content-type":"blog","featured-content":"","promo":"","redirect_url":"","is_board_member":false,"iie_show_breadcrumbs":true,"iie-exclude-from-subpage-nav":false,"footnotes":""},"coauthors":[760],"class_list":["post-47273","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Dr. Sweeta Akbari, IIE Scholar Rescue Fund Fellow | IIE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/OMcLJG5moTE?feature=shared Empowering Changemakers in STEM: Dr. Sweeta Akbari\u2019s Journey from Exile to Innovation in Biomedical Research\" 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